Bow rest and clamping device.



H. B. WHITE.

BOW BEST AND CLA'MFING DEVICE.

APPLICATION mm OCT.2I. 191s.

Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET lwmaa.

H. B. WHITE.

BOW REST AND CLAMPING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21. I915.

1,247,193. Patented Nov. 20,1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- H. 8. WHITE. BOW REST AND CLAMPING DEVICE.

I Ll ATION FILED 'OCT.2I. I9

1,947,193. W C 5' Patented Nov-30,1917.

' 1 3 ssssssssss Era.

nrvrann sr rns r rnNr HARRY IB. WHITE, or CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR r0 THEGILLIAM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION or onto. aY

BOW ans-1" D CLAMPI C LDEVICE.

Application filed. October 21, 1915. Serial No. 57,081.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, HARRY B. WHITE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Can; ton, in the county ofStark and State or Ohio, have invented a new and useful Bow Rest andClampingDevice, of which'the fol lowing is a specification. p

This invention relates to bow rests and clamping devices adapted forsupporting and clamping the bows of a vehicle top in the foldedposition. In the ordinary forms of bow rests such as are in use atpresent it is necessary to provide spacing lugs, either on the bow restor upon thebows them selves, for the purpose of spacing and separatelysupporting the several bows. The object of the present inventionis toprovide an improved bow rest and clamping device which will support thelowermost bow of the vehicle top, and separately support and clamp theuppermost bow in'the proper position, the provision of spacing lugs forseparately supporting and spacing the several bows being unnecessaryeither upon the bow rest or the bows.

A further object is to provide a simple,

inexpensive and eliicient device of thecharacter referred to which'maybeeasily and readily operated to clamp '01 'unclamp the bows. i

With these objects in view the invention consists in the novelconstruction and a1 rangement of parts, hereinafter described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed outin the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in theform, proportions, size and minor details of construction may be madewithin the scope of the appended claims, without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. I I

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bow rest andclamping device constructed in accordance with my invention. 7

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same ing the bows clamped therein. I

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the device in the open or unclampedposition.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the clamping'shoe.

Fig. 5 is adetail operating handle.

showperspective view of the Fig. 6-is a detail perspective view of thespring link Fig. 7. is a side elevation of a modified form of the'device showing the bows clamped therein. 7 f

Fig. 8. is an edge elevation of the same; the handle being broken forpurpose ofillustration.

. Specification of Letters Patent; Patented N av. 20, 1917.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding partsthroughout'the several figures of the drawings.

Referring more especially to the construction illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, the numeral 1 indicates t he"sup' porting rodwhich is preferably T-shaped in cross section and is provided with asocket 2 by means of which said supporting rod is connected to anddepends from the ordinary bracket which is provided upon automobiles andother vehicles'for the purpose of receiving said rod. The upperextremity of the supporting rod is of channel form as indi-' cated bythe numeral 8, the inner wallthereof being reinforced at its upperextremity as shown at 4 for the purpose of pivotally connecting theclamping shoe thereto as will be hereinafter described. i

The lower extremity of the supporting rod is curved as shown at 5 andprovided with a pair of ears 6 by means ofvvhich' the pivoted arm isconnected thereto as' will be further described. A curved transverse rib7 is formed integral with the supporting rod and is connected to each ofthe wings 6 for the purpose of strengthening the structure.

The clamping shoe 8 comprises thecurved' portion 9, the free extremityof which is preferably curved outwardly at '10, a'pair of ears 11 beingformed upon the upper extremity of said clampinglshoe and pivotallyconnected to the reinforced portion 4 of the supporting rod by means ofa pin 12. A shoulder 13 is formed upon the under face of each of thecars 11 and arranged to contact with the inner'face of the supportingrod anda' flat portion 14 is formed upon, the upper edge of each of saidears and. adapted to contact with the shoulder 15 formed at the upperextremity of said supporting rod. A curved rib 16 is formed freeextremities thereof being tip-turned as shown at :27 and located in theapertures :28 formed in the channel portion 3 of the supporting rod.When the link is placed in position as described the upper edges of theslot may be squeezed together as indicated at 29. Y

The retaining arm 30 is preferably T- shaped in cross section and thelower extremity thereof is curved at 31 and provided at its lowerextremityand upon each side of the web portion with a boss 32 adapted tobe seated between the ears 6 formed upon the supporting arm, a pin 33being passed through suitable apertures in said ears and retaining armfor the purpose of pivotally connecting said members together. The innerlower face of the retaining arm is curved as shown at 3a in order toaccommodate the lowermost bow and a pad 35 of leather or similarmaterial is attached thereto in the usual manner.

The upper extremity of the retaining arm is curved inwardly in order tofit the convex face of the clamping shoe and is provided with a groove36 adapted to receive the rib 16 formed upon said clamping shoe. The webportion of the retaining arm is tapered as indicated at 37 and adaptedto be seated within the shallow groove 38 formed in the operating handlewhen the parts are in the closed. position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Atapered stud 39 is formed near the upper extremity of the arm andadapted to be seated within a conical aperture 40 provided in thehandle, when the parts are in the clamped position as best shown in Fig.2.

\Vhen it is desired to clamp the bows of a vehicle top in the bowrestabove described the device is set in the opened position as shown.in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The bows arefthen lowered between thesupporting bar 1 and the retaining arm 30, the lowermost bow restingwithin the coucaved lower portion of the retaining arm. The handle isthen operated to bring the clamping shoe into engagement with theuppermost bow after which the retaining arm is swung into place againstthe clamping shoe, the groove 36 therein receiving the rib 16 of theclamping shoe. The handle is then moved down into the clamping position,clamping the shoe against the uppermost bow and as the link 26 passesover the center the handle will be held tightly in position, the shallowgroove 38 therein receiving the curved portion 37 of the web locatedupon the retaining arm. formed of spring material it will thus hold thehandle firmly in the clamped position. It will be noted that as theclamping shoe is operated by means of the handle, said shoeautomatically forces the uppermost bow downwardly into position andclamps said how against side movement. The tapered stud. 39 isreceived'in the conical aperture 40, in the handle, as said handle ismoved into the clamped position, and thus binds the retaining arm andhandle together while in the clamped position, preventing any sidemovement of either of said members, while the several ribs and groovesformed upon the several members hold the shoe, retaining arm and handlein alinement. The con caved portion 34: of the retaining arm engages thelowermost bow of the vehicle top and holds said bow against upward oroutward movement. The uppermost and lowermost bows of the vehicle topare thus separately supported and clamped in position, the interveningbows assuming the proper positions between said upper and lower bows andwith this construction no spacing lugs upon the bows themselves orsupporting or spacing members upon the bow rest and clamping device arenecessary. The retaining arm will furthermore prevent any accidentalhorizontal displacement of the intervening bows.

In Figs. 7 and 8 is illustrated a modified form of the device. Referringmore especially to the construction illustrated in these figures thenumeral 1 indicates the supporting rod which is preferably T-shaped incross section and is provided with a socket 2" by means of which thesupporting rod is connected to and depends from the ordinary bracketwhich is provided upon automobiles and other vehicles for the pu pose ofreceiving said rod. The upper extremity of thesupporting rod is ofchannel form as indicated by the numeral 3", the inner wall thereofbeing reinforced at its upper extremity for the purpose of pivotallyconnecting the clamping shoe thereto as will be hereinafter described.

The lower extremity of-the supporting rod is curved as shown at 5" andprovided with a pair of cars 6" by means of which the pivoted retainingarm is connected thereto. The clamping shoe 8 comprises the curvedportion 9", a pair of ears 11",being formed upon the upper extremity ofsaid clamping shoe and pivotally connected to the reinforced portion ofthe supporting rod by means of a pin 12". The shoulder 13 is formed uponthe under face of each of the ears for the purpose of engaging the innerAs the link 1s face of the supporting rod when the shoe is in thelowered or clamped position and a flat portion 14: is formed upon theupper edge of each of said ears and adapted to contact with the shoulder15 formed at the upper extremity of the supporting rod. A curved rib 16is formed upon the convex face of the clamping shoe and a pad of leatheror similar material 17 is attached to the concaved face thereof.

The operating handle 18 is provided at its upper extremity with theangularly disposed arm 19 which is adapted to be located between theears 11 of the clamping shoe, a pin 20" being provided for the purposeof pivotally connecting said handle to the clamping shoe. The springlink 26 connects the operating handle with the channel portion of thesupporting rod.

The retaining arm 30 is preferably T- shaped in cross section and thelower extremity thereof is curved at 31 and pivotally connected to thecurved portion of the supporting arm by means of a pin 83", the innerlower face of the retaining arm is concaved as shown at 34 in order toac commodate the lowermost bow and a pad 35" of leather or similarmaterial is attached thereto in the usual manner.

The upper extremity of the retaining arm is provided with a socket 45adapted to ac-' commodate the tongue 46 provided upon the lowerextremity of the clamping shoe when the parts are in the clampedposition. The curved rib 16 and the upper portion of the web 37 of theretaining arm are adapted to be seated within the shallow groove38foimed in the operating handle, when the parts are in the clampedposition.

When it is desiredto clamp the bows of a vehicle top in this modifiedform of bow rest the device is set in the open position and the bows arethen lowered between the supporting arm 1" and the retaining arm 30",the lowermost bow resting within the concaved lower portion of theretaining arm. The retaining arm is then swung into position and thehandle is operated to bring the clamping shoe into engagement with theuppermost bow and as the handle is moved down into the clampingposition, clamping the shoe against the uppermost how, the link 26passes over the center, thus holding the several parts tightly clampedinto position, the tongue 46 of the clamping shoe resting within thesocket l5 of the retaining arm, while the rib of the clamping shoe andthe web of the retaining arm are located within the shallow grooveformed in the operating handle, thus retaining the arm, shoe and handlein alinelnent.

As is well understood by those versed in the construction of vehicletops such as are commonly used upon automobiles and the like each topconsists of a plurality of bows side of the vehicle by means of a bar orrod extending across the top. Thus the natural tendency of each bow isto spring outwardly away from the vehicle body as the bows. as well astheir connecting rods, are formed of spring material or of material ofaslightly springy naturef lVhen the bows of the top are folded'down intothe closed position the top bow of the set must be forced downconsiderably in order to be clamped within the bow rest and clampingdevice. lVith the ordinary forms of how rests and clamping devices itisinecessary to force this upper bow down with one hand whiletheclamping device is operated with the other hand to hold the bows in thefolded position. With the present bow rest and clamping device embodyingthe invention disclosed in this application it is not necessary for theoperator to'draw'the bows down by hand; the. bows are merely lowereduntil the lower bow rests upon the rest member 5, after which theretaining arm is moved into position and the operating levermoved'downwardly; bringing'the clamping shoe downwardly, contactingwiththe upper bow of the set and forcing said upper bow downwardly as wellas inwardly and when the operating lever is moved to the limit of itsdownward movement the retaining arm and clamping shoe are thus locked inthe closed position, clamping the bows in the folded position, the upperbow due to thespringy nature of the bows and the construction thereofabove pointed out being forced outwardly aga nst the clamping shoe andresting upon the projection 17 thereof. the intermed ate bows beingproperly spaced between the upper and lower bows, while the lower bow isheld in position by means of the projection 35 upon the retaining arm.

The entire set of bows is thus quickly and easily forced into theclamped position and held in the clamped position by the action abovedescribed.v

Although the drawings and above specification disclose the best mode inwhich I have contemplated embodying my invention I desire to be notlimited to the details of such disclosure, for, in the further practicalapplication of my invention, many changes in form and construction maybe made, as circumstances require or experience suggests, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a supporting rod, acurved clamping shoe pivotally mounted upon the upper extremity of thesupporting rod and arranged to separately support and clamp theuppermost bow of a vehicle top, a retaining arm pivotally mounted uponthe lower extremity of said supporting rod and arranged to be held inposition by said clamping shoe and means for holding said clamping shoein the clamped position.

2. A device of the character described comprising a supporting rod, acurved clamping shoe pivotally mounted upon the upper extremity of thesupporting rod and arranged to separately support and clamp theuppermost bow of a vehicle top, a retaining arm pivotally n'iounted uponthe lower extremity of said supporting rod, the upper extremity of saidretaining arm being adapted to be engaged by the lower extremity of saidclamping shoe when the parts are in the clamped position, and means forholding said clamping shoe in the clamped position.

A device of the character described, comprising a supporting rod, acurvet clamping shoe pivotally mounted upon the upper extremity of thesupporting rod and arranged to separately support and clamp theuppermost bow of a vehicle top, a retaining arm pivotally mounted uponthe lower extremity of said supporting rod and provided with a socket inits upper portion, a tongue formed upon said clamping shoe and arrangedto be seated Within said socket When the parts are in the clampedposition and means for holding said clamping shoe in the clampedposition.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a supporting rod, aclamping shoe pivotally mounted upon the upper extremity of saidsupporting rod, and arranged to separately support and clamp theuppermost boW of aset of top bows, a retaining arm pivotally connectedto the lower extremity of said supporting rod and arranged to be clampedin position by said clamping shoe and means "for holding said clampingshoe in the clamped position.

5. A device of the character described,

Gopiea or this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressingthe Commissioner or Patents.

comprising a supporting rod, a curved clamping shoe pivotally mountedupon the upper extremity of said supporting rod and arranged toseparately support and clamp the uppermost bow of a set of top bo\vs, anoperating handle pivotally mounted upon said clamping shoe, a retainingarm pivotally mounted upon the lower extremity of said supporting rodadapted to separately support and clamp the lowermost bow of the set,the upper extremity of said retaining arm being arranged to be engagedby said clamping shoe and means for holding all of said members in theclamped position.

6. A device 01 the character described,

comprising a supporting rod, a curved clamping shoe pivotally mountedupon the upper extremity of said supporting rod and arranged toseparately support and clamp the uppermostbOW of a set of top bows, atongue provided upon said clamping shoe, an operating handle pivotallymounted upon said clamping shoe, a retaining arm pivotally mounted uponthe lower extremity of said supporting rod and adapted to separatelysupport and clamp the lowermost bow of the set, the upper extremity ofsaid retaining arm being provided With a socket arranged to receive saidtongue when the parts are in the clamped position and means for boldingall of said members in the clamped position.

7. A. device of the character described, comprising a supporting rod, aclamping shoe pivotally mounted upon the upper extremity of saidsupporting rod and arranged to separately support and clamp theuppermost bow of a vehicle top, a retaining arm pivotally mounted uponthe lOWQl extremity of said supporting rod and arranged to engage saidclamping shoe and means for holdiug said clamping shoe and retaining armin the clamped position.

In testimony that I claim the above, I

have hereunto subscribed my name.

HARRY B. "WHITE.

Washington, D. C.

